LITCHFIELD DEDICATED TO HER GAME TENNIS STANDOUT UNOFFICIAL COACH, NATURAL LEADER FOR QUARTZ HILL TEAM.Byline: GIDEON RUBIN Special to the Daily News QUARTZ HILL -- Ashley Litchfield is in many ways much like most of her elite-level U.S. Tennis Association counterparts. She receives private instruction, plays at most of the big tournaments and lives to play top-level opponents. But unlike most top-ranked players, Litchfield, a Quartz Hill High senior standout, also has a life outside competitive tennis. Her hobbies include snowboarding snowboarding: see under skiing. snowboarding Sport of sliding downhill over snow on a snowboard, a wide ski ridden in a surfing position. Derived from surfing and influenced also by skateboarding as well as skiing, snowboarding began to burgeon and going to the beach with friends. She has a passion for art -- she's now taking AP drawing classes -- which she traces to grandmothers on both sides of her family. She has been playing since she was 4 under the tutelage TUTELAGE. State of guardianship; the condition of one who is subject to the control of a guardian. of her mother, Liz Litchfield, who's an instructor. But she's taken time off from the sport, including several months earlier this year. ``I've never had any pressure,'' Litchfield said. ``It's always been a light-hearted and fun thing to do. If I wanted to stop, I always could.'' These days, she's going full bore. Litchfield, widely considered among the Antelope Valley's best players ever, has Quartz Hill seeking its first Southern Section title. The Rebels, ranked No. 3 in Div. IV, play unranked St. Margaret's of San Juan Capistrano San Juan Capistrano (săn wän kăpĭsträ`nō), city (1990 pop. 26,183), Orange co., S Calif.; inc. 1961. San Juan Capistrano has some manufactures, including aircraft parts, medical apparatus, and boats, but the economy is in a second-round match at 2 p.m. today at Nellie See Sooty albatross Gail Tennis Club in San Juan Capistrano. Litchfield, a Div A DIV Associate of Divinity . I prospect who's already been contacted by several schools including California State University, Northridge CSUN offers a variety of programs leading to bachelor's degrees in 61 fields and master's degrees in 42 fields. The university has over 150,000 alumni. It's also home to a summer musical theater/theater program known as TADW (TeenAge Drama Workshop) that leads teenagers through an , is a four-time Golden League champion who compiled a stunning 138-0 league record over that span. ``Going undefeated in league for four years was a great accomplishment, but it would be a bigger accomplishment if we could win (the Southern Section title) as a team because it's not just me, it's the whole team,'' Litchfield said. Litchfield and teammate Carolyn Smith, a junior, also qualified for the Nov. 18 Southern Section individual championships. However her postseason unfolds, Quartz Hill coach Bill Lenaway believes she's as good if not better than some of the other top players his program has produced. That group includes Sonia Reynolds, who now plays at Swarthmore (Pa.) College, and her older sister, Lori Reynolds, and Nicole Williford, both of whom went on to Div. I programs after playing for Quartz Hill in the 1990s. Lenaway cites Litchfield's power, consistency, court smarts and work ethic work ethic n. A set of values based on the moral virtues of hard work and diligence. work ethic Noun a belief in the moral value of work among her greatest strengths. ``(Litchfield) might be the most well-rounded,'' Lenaway said. Known for her fiery court presence, Litchfield believes her competitiveness is her greatest asset. Among her career highlights was a 7-6, 6-3, 6-2 victory earlier this month over Beijing native Kristin Yup, an internationally ranked player. The match took more than three hours. ``I just won't go away,'' she said sternly. ``Even if I'm outmatched, I'll try to beat them any way I can.'' Lenaway said Litchfield is a throwback throwback see atavism. , noting that her commitment to her teammates at a time when the sport has become increasingly individual-oriented is rare. He said Litchfield acts as an additional coach on the court, offering tips and encouragement to teammates. He said she's missed just one match, noting that many of her elite-level counterparts don't even practice with their teams, often just showing up for big matches. ``She's the kind of kid who was around when I was in high school, where if you had teammates who weren't toeing the line, the coach didn't always have to deal with it,'' Lenaway said. Teammates say Litchfield's presence alone has helped the entire team elevate el·e·vate tr.v. ele·vat·ed, ele·vat·ing, ele·vates 1. To move (something) to a higher place or position from a lower one; lift. 2. To increase the amplitude, intensity, or volume of. 3. its game. ``It helps having someone that's that good on the team,'' Smith said. ``It keeps you motivated mo·ti·vate tr.v. mo·ti·vat·ed, mo·ti·vat·ing, mo·ti·vates To provide with an incentive; move to action; impel. mo and it keeps you trying to get to that level.'' Said No. 3 singles player Renuka Rudra: ``She's kind of innately in·nate adj. 1. Possessed at birth; inborn. 2. Possessed as an essential characteristic; inherent. 3. Of or produced by the mind rather than learned through experience: the team leader even if she's not trying to be.'' Litchfield has been consistently ranked in the USTA's top 100 in Southern California Southern California, also colloquially known as SoCal, is the southern portion of the U.S. state of California. Centered on the cities of Los Angeles and San Diego, Southern California is home to nearly 24 million people and is the nation's second most populated region, the past two years. ``I just think it's good to have different things to do in your life,'' Litchfield said. ``That way if you're stressing out about one thing, you can do something else to keep your mind off of it.'' CAPTION(S): photo Photo: Quartz Hill High tennis player Ashley Litchfield is undefeated in more than 100 Golden League matches and is ranked 65th by the U.S. Tennis Association in Southern California. John Lazar/Staff Photographer |
|
||||||||||||
Printer friendly
Cite/link
Email
Feedback
Reader Opinion